Property industry manifesto calls for CIL reform and inclusion of housing in NSIP regime

Among the recommendations in the British Property Federation (BPF)'s 'manifesto' for the 2015 general election (8-page / 2.8 MB PDF) was a reform of CIL "so that it supports development". The BPF called for CIL to be made more flexible, allowing councils to "agree bespoke contributions for large, complex or strategically important schemes on a case-by-case basis". It also said a future government should make sure that councils spent CIL contributions "on the infrastructure that they need".

The BPF repeated its support for the inclusion of projects delivering large numbers of homes within the NSIP regime, which provides a streamlined planning consent process for major infrastructure projects. "Large, mixed-use developments - be they new towns, urban extensions or high-density inner city schemes - are vital to meet the housing challenge," said the manifesto. "Such development should be recognised as nationally significant infrastructure, helping it to be delivered more quickly."

The manifesto said the property industry "would like to invest more than £10 billion of equity in purpose-built private rented sector (PRS) homes". It called on the next government to support a professional PRS sector and to "ensure that councils embrace the potential of build-to-rent, and beware an overly-prescriptive approach to rents or leases that could dissuade the largest, professional investors".

In order to "avoid further disruption and delay to new development", the BPF said the next government should allow the National Planning Policy Framework "time to bed in". However, it called for the duty for councils to co-operate with their neighbours in strategic decision making to be strengthened.

"Never has the real estate sector held such a pivotal role in the future health of the UK economy," said BPF president Bill Hughes in a statement. "Alongside infrastructure, it is a key driver of growth, productivity, employment, and a long-term determinant of the quality of the built environment in which we live."

"It is essential that the next wave of politicians fully recognise the issues that will allow the industry to deliver the necessary and crucial investment into the UK and to deliver on the ground," Hughes said.